Expenditure on R&D carried out by private non-profit organisations in 1998-99 ($184m) increased by 6% (table 25.1) over 1996-97 expenditure.

Medical and health sciences comprised the major field of research for R&D expenditure in the private non-profit sector, accounting for $126m (68%) of the sector's total R&D expenditure in 1998-99. Labour costs continued to be the main component of R&D expenditure (50%) (table 25.13).

Medical and health sciences also comprised the leading field of research in terms of human resource use.

25.13 PRIVATE NON-PROFIT ORGANISATIONS, R&D Resources by Field of Research - 1998-99

Type of expenditure

Field of research

Land and buildings

$m

Other capital expenditure

$m

Labour costs

$m

Other current expenditure

$m

Total

$m

Human resources

person years

Natural sciences, technologies and engineering -

- Mathematical sciences

-

-

-

-

-

-

- Physical sciences

-

-

0.6

0.3

1.0

12

- Chemical sciences

-

0.1

0.7

0.4

1.2

14

- Earth sciences

-

-

-

-

-

1

- Information, computers and communication technologies

-

-

0.4

0.1

0.5

4

- Applied sciences and technologies

-

-

0.1

-

0.1

2

- General engineering

-

-

0.2

-

0.2

3

- Biological sciences

0.7

3.1

21.4

15.9

41.2

482

- Agricultural sciences

-

-

0.3

0.2

0.5

5

- Medical and health sciences

2.6

11.3

63.5

48.6

125.9

1,455

- Total natural sciences, technologies and engineering

3.4

14.6

87.1

65.6

170.7

1,978

Social sciences and humanities -

- Social sciences

0.1

0.2

5.0

7.8

13.1

89

- Humanities

-

-

0.1

-

0.1

1

- Total social sciences and humanities

0.1

0.2

5.1

7.8

13.2

90

Total

3.5

14.8

92.2

73.5

183.9

2,068

Source: Research and Experimental Development, Government and Private Non-profit Organisations, Australia (8109.0).

In the private non-profit sector, Health was the main socioeconomic objective (table 25.14), accounting for 85% or $156m of total R&D expenditure. Education and training accounted for $13m (7%), while $8m (4%) was directed towards Advancement of knowledge.

A similar pattern applied to human resources devoted to R&D, with 87% directed towards Health, 5% towards Education and training, and 4% towards Advancement of knowledge.